The year 2023 Ahead: Challenges that Require More Decisive Leadership

Introduction

South Africa and the world are facing many and multiple challenges. Some of these challenges are unprecedented and they remain a threat into the year 2023 ahead.

The year 2022 has been challenging in many fronts in South Africa and in the world. The year 2022 started with the news of the burning of parliament. On the 2nd of January 2023, it will be a year since this tragic incident occurred. One of the provinces of South Africa, KwaZulu Natal faced unprecedented floods that resulted in fatalities and many people left destitute. South Africa has not succeeded in dealing decisively with racism.

Challenges that Confront Our Generation

At the centre of many challenges that face our times is poor leadership. Leadership occurs at all levels and takes many forms. Leadership is not only about some mandated or appointed positions. Leadership is also about who you are as a person, your values, your level of care, and what you stand for. There is no excuse for not playing your part as a leader. Some of the major challenges confronting us and which require our collective wisdom are (not in the order of any priority, and not an exhaustive list):

• The unacceptably high level of unemployment and inequality,
• Gender-based violence,
• Load shedding and unreliable energy supply,
• Bribery and corruption,
• Ongoing wars, and
• Climate change.

Unacceptably High Level of Unemployment and Inequality

The level of unemployment in South Africa remains one of the major threats to prosperity, freedom, and economic stability. In South Africa, the unemployment rate remained stubbornly above 30% with the youth unemployment remaining above 50%. This means poverty in many households. South Africa continues to be plagued by a high level of inequality. The World Bank reported that South Africa remained the most unequal country in the world. The World Bank also reported that in South Africa, race plays key factor in a society where 10% of population owns more than 80% of wealth. There is no economic freedom for the vast majority of the population. This is unacceptably high, unsustainable, and a ticking bomb.

Gender-based Violence

Having one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world, South Africa remains a crime scene for gender based violence where women and children are abused and violated daily. On average, 3 women are killed everyday by a close partner in South Africa. In addition, an estimate of 1 out of every 4 South African women are survivors of domestic violence.

Load Shedding and Unreliable Energy Supply

Lack of sustainable and reliable energy remains a threat to the economy, households, and the business community. The ongoing and scheduled load shedding is a source of untold pain for a number of businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, many who are just trying to survive. Many households and many small and medium-sized enterprises do not have adequate resources to afford an alternative source of energy, such as solar power.

Bribery and Corruption

Corruption remains one of the major challenges that hamper growth and economic progress in South Africa. It is reported that corruption is regarded as the the second most prevalent crime in the country. Corruption has resulted in the deterioration of the infrastructure as well as lack of and poor service delivery.

Effects of Ongoing Wars

The ongoing war in Ukraine has resulted in food shortages and rising inflation and slow world economic growth which threatens to result into recession. As we are at the verge of the end of 2022, there is still no sign of the end of the war. As we are at the verge of the end of 2022, there is not a sign of proper world economic recovery. Recession remains a threat to the world order and financial stability.

Climate Change

With the effects of climate change becoming more evident, climate change is becoming a bigger threat to the stability of the world. Climate change continues to disrupt lives and livelihoods whilst causing devastating effects in all parts of our lives, including food security and health of nations.

The Year 2023 Ahead

Despite all the challenges mentioned above, the year 2022 has provided personkind with many opportunities some of which could have been used to resolve some of these challenges. Many opportunities were taken and many were missed. The year 2023 will provide us with an opportunity to rebuild and fight all the ills that are holding South Africa and the world into ransom. The year 2023 will require decisive leadership more than before. The year 2023 will require timous action more than before. The year 2023 will require focus and commitment more than before. The year 2023 will require ethical and servant leadership more than before. The year 2023 will require servant and moral leaders that care about those that they lead more than they care about themselves and their next term of leadership. The year 2023 will require leaders, individuals and community leaders who are ethical. It will require consistency, not only to be ethical when it is convenient and easy. It will require a bold civic movement that stands for the truth regardless of who is sponsoring or funding them. The year 2023 will require a church that stands for the truth and justice for all, and not for certain individuals who happen to be their favour of the day.

Conclusion

The challenges mentioned above are multifactorial and interlinked. They require collective wisdom. At the same time, these challenges call for each individual to play their part in addressing them. Whilst many of them might be at a political level, many still are at an individual and family level. Imagine if each individual can refuse to be part of corruption. Imagine if each individual can make it their commitment not to be part of women and child abuse. Imagine if each individual can make it their commitment to not tolerate any forms of abuse, corruption and racism. You and I have a major leadership role to play. Through our leadership and activism, you and I can change this trajectory for the benefit of the future of South Africa and future of the world. Do not give up!! Let us each play a role in confronting what appears to be a challenge of our generation.